The efficacy of offence-specific interventions in reducing risk and recidivism in women: a systematic review

• Published in: The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 291 - 322
• Main Authors: Galway, Róisín, Swales, Michaela A, Wane, Julia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 04.05.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Efficacy; forensic; gender-responsive; Inpatient care; Intervention; offender behaviour; Offending; prison; Prisons; Probation service; Recidivism; Risk reduction; Self report; Systematic review; violence; Women
• ISSN: 1478-9949; 1478-9957
• DOI: 10.1080/14789949.2022.2053185

Almost a quarter of women released from prisons in England and Wales reoffend; this figure is three times higher for women serving less than 12-month sentences. Offender programmes used within prison, probation, and forensic inpatient services aim to reduce an individual's risk of reoffending. Whilst offence-specific interventions are widely offered to men who offend, comparatively few are offered to women. The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of offence-specific interventions in reducing women's recidivism. Overall, recidivism in programme completers was low (m = 14.05%). However, the quality of studies included (n = 7) was low, limiting the conclusions drawn. Several studies yielded met the inclusion criteria, with the exception of reporting recidivism outcomes. A second review was conducted incorporating these studies, broadening the outcomes of interest to include incidents of violence in hospital or prison and self-report outcomes related to offending (n = 10). Incidents reduced following programme completion; however, self-reported outcomes were mixed. The review highlighted a lack of evidence for the efficacy of offence-specific interventions facilitated with women and limited use of recidivism as an outcome measure within the literature, despite often being a key aim of the interventions.